Cover cropping is the maintenance of a continuous cover of plants. They can be planted to improve soil structure and fertility after they are incorporated back into the soil.

This practice increases soil organic matter and improves soil fertility. It also raises soil moisture holding capacity, helps prevent soil erosion, limits nutrient runoff, reduces soil compaction, and helps suppress some pests and weeds.

A groundcover is a low-growing plant with dense foliage, typically spreading wider than they are tall.

They provide topsoil with a layer of protection, preventing erosion, stabilizing soil, and providing shade. This helps soil retain moisture.

Groundcovers also serve as natural weed control, are low maintenance, and add a functional, yet aesthetic appeal to any garden.

A pollinator garden is planted with native flowering perennials that support pollinators and wildlife by mimicking their natural habitat.

To attract as many pollinators as possible, plant various types of flowers that flourish in all seasons and flowers of all shapes, sizes, and colors.

This garden type adds habitat features such as shelter and water that are vital to various species and is beneficial for stormwater treatment.

A rain garden is a landscaped area with a shallow depression that is filled with moisture-tolerant plants to collect, treat, and infiltrate stormwater.

Conveyance structures, such as rain guardians and stone-lined channels divert water from impervious surfaces into the garden.

They help to prevent flooding and erosion, intercept pollutants, and provide habitat and pollination opportunities for various species.

A raised bed garden has soil that is raised above ground level, typically in a box-like frame made of a food-safe material.

Raised bed gardens allow for better soil quality depending on vegetation type, as a custom soil mix can be created for each bed.

They also have improved drainage, reduced weed growth, and the potential for a longer growing season due to faster soil warming.

A salt-tolerant garden is comprised of carefully chosen plants that can withstand frequent or constant soil saturation and salt spray.

This garden type is beneficial because it allows plants to be grown in coastal regions, beside salted roadways, or in urban areas with limited green space.

Many salt tolerant plants are drought-resistant, tolerant of poor soil quality, and assist in shoreline stabilization.

A vertical garden is comprised of plants that naturally grow very tall, or that are supported by a vertical structure, such as a trellis or a lattice.

This is an ideal garden type for those focused on space-saving options and/or looking to transform unused vertical space.

Vertical gardens can also help insulate buildings, reduce noise pollution, provide passive cooling, and increase food production.

A bioswale is a shallow channel filled in with tall and dense vegetative cover, primarily consisting of grasses.

They are often located adjacent to impervious surfaces like roadways and parking lots.

Bioswales convey stormwater runoff while slowing velocity, filtering pollutants, and encouraging groundwater infiltration.